The #24 Emporia State football team pitched a second-half shutout on the way to a 34-20 win over #20 Michigan Tech on Opening Day at Welch Stadium on Saturday. The Hornet defense set the tone early with a three-and-out before the Hornets used a 49-yard run by Ondraye Beasley to set up his first touchdown catch as a Hornet to take an early 7-0 lead. MTU answered back to tie the game at 7-all in the first before Brandon McCary punched through for the first of his two field goals on the day. Tech drove 84 yards over the first seven minutes of the second quarter to take a 14-10 lead but ESU answered with a seven-play 75-yard drive capped off with a 22-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Jamison Sarver to retake the lead. ESU blocked a Husky punt late in the second but with the wind it rolled over 50 yards and ESU could only manage a 13-yard punt and the Huskies took advantage of the short field to lead 20-17 at the half after missing the extra point. Tech was 7-for-10 on third down in the first half but finished just 2-for-8 in the second as the ESU defense took over while the offense got the ground game going picking up a rushing touchdown by Terrel Graves and a receiving score by Camden Crooks to put the game out of reach. Head coach Garin Higgins said it was a quality win for his program.
Sarver, who started the game in place of Ben Harris who missed the game with a PCL injury, said he’s always ready to step in.
Landon Boss led the Hornet defense with 13 tackles and matched a career-high four tackles for loss and said the team winning early downs let them make plays on third down in the second half.
Sarver finished 32 of 48 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns while carrying five times for 25 yards and a score. Ty Walls led the receivers with eight catches for 55 yards The Hornets rushed for 168 yards averaging 4.9 yards per carry. ESU (3-0, 1-0 MIAA) returns to MIAA action against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, September 19 back at Welch Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. with pregame coverage at 3:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
